Why is the emissions warning light on in my 2002 vauxhall astra? what could be wrong?
Answers:
Try replacing the engine temperature sensor if this is at fault it will think the engine is cold all the time it will switch the cold running system on and will run with high emissions all the time detected by the lambda or oxygen sensor in the exhaust, thus the engine ecu knows this is wrong and putting up a fault triggering a K or emissions warning light.
You will also get loss of power with this as your engine is running too rich i.e. too much fuel.
Fairly common for these to pack up and the cheapest item to replace usually, before you start replaceing lambda sensors, catalitic convertors, EGR valves, which can get into £100's of pounds.
With loss of power the other item at fault could be the EGR valve
this is an exhaust Gas Return or Recycleing valve which returns some burnt exhaust gasses back into the inlet side of the engine to be reburnt in order to reduce emissions when the engine is first stated up.
This is stuck openall the time or there is another fault with it may make the engine run lower on power as the recycled exhaust gasses take up the space that oxygen could in the engine combustion process giving you less power than you would usually have.
Either way have it looked at by either a Vauxhall garage or a good
Vehicle garage with modern vehicle diagnostics computers, its worth paying the money to have it properly fixed first time around because running with a bad fuel mixture if there is a fault in that area could destroy your vehicles exhaust systems catalitic converter costing you hundreds of pounds to replace.
hope this helps.
Your oxygen sensor or it is called O2 sensor needs replacing. It is giving a wrong signal to the electronic ignition.
It is the only thing on your exhaust manifold with wires going to it.
Gas cap could be loose.
PCV valve 5-10 dollar should change every 10,000k's
Everything from a loose Gas Cap to a Catalytic Converter. Good Luck
you have answered your own question
when the light comes on the system has registered high emission levels and will have recorded a fault code in its memory you should have this checked by a garage
let a professional look at it, but it will cost you
Is your car petrol or a tdi?, depending on the engine your car may have a o2 sensor which either given up the ghost or just dirty, your car could just need a good service, ie filters oils etc, your cat converter could be knackered if you in a high millage but the would strange in such a new car, unless it driven through water or push started.
hope this helped
The answers post by the user, for information only, UKQnA.com does not guarantee the right.